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North Must Invest in Media to Tell Its True Narratives – Prof. Kurfi

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Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi

 

Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi, a renowned scholar in mass communication from Bayero University, Kano, has called on Northern Nigeria to urgently invest in the media sector, stressing that the absence of strong northern media platforms has weakened the region’s voice in national discourse.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement organized by the Fulbe Development and Cultural Organization (FUDECO) in collaboration with the National Commission for Nomadic Education, Professor Kurfi lamented the collapse of legacy media institutions like New Nigerian Newspapers and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Kaduna. The event was themed “Consolidating the Outcomes of the IDRC-SPARC GES Research Findings on the Media Empowerment of Pastoralist Women in Kano State.”

According to Professor Kurfi, access to information is a powerful tool for societal development. “No communication, no society,” he stated, adding that women in rural areas, especially among the Fulani communities, must be educated on the value of information. He described the findings of the research presented during the event as a reflection of reality and not surprising to those familiar with gender issues in rural communities.

He referenced the existence of gender studies at Bayero University as a testament to the growing recognition of the need to investigate the different experiences of men and women, especially in media access and usage. Professor Kurfi said nearly 99 percent of newspapers in Nigeria are produced in the South, particularly in Lagos and Ibadan.

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“The flow of information is from the South. You cannot access what you do not own,” he explained. “What the southern press engages in is what I call media coinage. They shape narratives in ways that do not always favour the North, and while they avoid terms like ‘terrorist’ for the Igbo or Yoruba, the North is constantly labeled in such negative terms.”

Professor Kurfi emphasized that for the North to control its narrative, it must revive and invest in indigenous media institutions. He called for renewed support to expand the scope of research beyond Shagawa Ward in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, where the current study was conducted, suggesting that future studies should encompass entire local governments to get broader and more representative data.

Highlighting the importance of media literacy, he urged Fulani communities to use social media and digital platforms not only for entertainment but also for education and self-improvement. “Media literacy helps people to distinguish between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation,” he said. “Social media tools should be used to upload content that benefits individuals and society at large.”

He also stressed the importance of collaboration in research, stating that a single organization cannot address the information gap alone. “Since FUDECO has initiated this collaborative effort, we should now focus on defined research areas, seek funding, and investigate the real problems affecting the Fulani people,” he advised.

Professor Kurfi recommended that findings of such studies be documented and shared with policymakers and stakeholders to influence practical change. “Research like this must not remain on the shelves; it should inform planning and policy that uplift marginalized communities,” he said.

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Court Restrains Anti-Corruption Commission, Others from interfering in MAAUN’s Affairs

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A Kano High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and four other parties from interfering in the internal and external affairs of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (AAUN), Kano.

Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji of the High court of Kano Judicial Division issued the order, while ruling on a motion of ex parte filed by the management of the university.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, PCACC, Kano State House of Assembly and the state’s Attorney-General and concerned parents of the institution.

Justice Ma’aji in the court order dated December 11, 2025, restrained the respondents or any other person acting on their behalf from inviting officials of the institution or interfering in the administrative and academic activities of the intuition, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

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The court also directed all the parties to maintain status quo in relation to the matter between the applicant and the first respondent, pending the determination of the originating summons.

Speaking after the ruling, MAAUN’s counsel Zahraddeen M. Bello, said that the court’s decision reaffirmed the rule of law and the need for due process, saying the university will continue to operate within the confines of law, while the case is pending.

However, the court granted leave to the applicant to serve court processes on the fifth respondent at its office located at No. 224 Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Kano.

The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025 and the order was given under the hand and seal of the presiding judge and was duly endorsed by the Principal Registrar of the court.

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Jigawa Trains Local Government Chairmen on 2025 Tax Reform Act

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The Jigawa Joint Task Committee has commenced a two-day capacity-building training for local government chairmen and policymakers. The two-day capacity program focused on the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act (NTA) 2025, which is scheduled to take effect nationwide on January 1, 2026.

The training gathered a contingent of state and local revenue stakeholders, including all 27 local government chairmen of Jigawa State, led by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), revenue officers, and key policy and tax experts.

The core objective of the session was multifaceted: to enhance understanding of the NTA 2025 and its specific implications for local government administration, strengthen collaboration between state and local tiers for revenue harmonization and joint administration, and improve the technical capacity of local government leaders in deploying modern revenue processes and digital systems.

During the event, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa Internal Revenue Service (JIRS), Dr. Nasir Sabo Idris, commended the state government’s leadership for its commitment to fiscal autonomy.

“I wish to acknowledge the immense support of His Excellency, Governor Malam Umar Namadi, FCA,” Dr. Idris said.

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According to Dr. Idris, Jigawa Governor’s commitment to revenue generation has been unwavering, ensuring a consistent improvement in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Dr. Idris pointed out that the upcoming launch of JigiTax, a wholly digital platform designed to streamline and modernize revenue collection across Jigawa State, is underway.

He said the move is seen as a direct response to strengthening transparency and blocking revenue leakages.

On his part, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Local Government, Ibrahim Graba Hannun-Giwa, whose address was delivered by the Director of Research, Malam Samaila Yusuf, said:

“The Ministry of Local Government is doing all it takes to continue supporting the visionary policies of Governor Namadi and driving policies that will shore up the revenue base of our local governments,” Malam Yusuf stated, emphasizing a unified approach to fiscal strength.

The dividends of the collaborative efforts were highlighted by the ALGON Chairman, who also serves as the Chairman of Dutse Local Government.

Speaking to newsmen, he asserted that the state’s disciplined approach had fundamentally altered the financial landscape at the grassroots level.

“With the commitment shown by Governor Namadi and the diligent efforts of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee, no local government in Jigawa now seeks intervention,” the ALGON Chairman declared.

He said, “Revenue loopholes are being systematically blocked, and improved compliance by different stakeholders, including markets and motor parks remitting their taxes, has significantly boosted our revenue drive.”

He further confirmed that the local governments had already undertaken a series of awareness trainings for all relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition to the NTA 2025.

Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi said the in a paper presentation titled “State and Local Government in the Law,” by a legal practitioner. The paper specifically called for the legislative institutionalization of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee by the State House of Assembly. This institutional backing, the practitioner argued, would solidify the collaborative framework for revenue harmonization and ensure its longevity beyond the current administration.

 

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Former President Obasanjo Endorses Turaki’s Faction of PDP

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo hosted the national working committee (NWC) of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The PDP faction visited the former president on Saturday, and Kabiru Turaki led the delegation.

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Those among the delegation are: Muazu Aliyu, former Niger governor; Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and many more.

Interacting with the delegation, Obasanjo commended the faction’s effort, adding that its members should “soldier on”.

The former president also urged the faction to remain steadfast in instilling discipline in the party, adding that:

“anybody who wants to belong to a political party must adhere strictly to its rules and regulations”.

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